CHAMPLAIN — Despite a hard-fought comeback in the final eight minutes of play, the Beekmantown Lady Eagles were unable to keep their perfect record intact.

Instead, the Northeastern Clinton Cougars were able to score a 66-59 victory over the Lady Eagles Jan. 26, avenging their sole loss of the CVAC season and bringing the two teams to a tie at the top of the CVAC standings.

“We knew the run was coming,” NCCS coach Frank Dumas said. “We were able to get out to a lead in the second quarter, but we knew they were undefeated for a reason and they were going to have a run.”

The Cougars’ run came in the second quarter, after a Kenna Guynup three-pointer gave the Eagles an 18-12 lead.

The Cougars would then score the next 22 points in the game, finishing on a 27-2 run and taking a 39-20 lead into halftime.

“They played a strong second quarter,” Beekmantown head coach Greg Waters said. “I was happy our girls continued to play hard in the second half.”

After Beekmantown shaved one point off the lead with a 14-13 third quarter, The Cougars were able to increase their lead to 23 points at 50-27 before the comeback bid began with the Eagles going on a 17-4 run to cut the lead to 10.

Beekmantown was able to get as close as five points at 64-59, but The Cougars converted on a pair of free throws to ice the game in the final four seconds of play.

Guynup was key to the Eagles comeback bid, scoring 18 of her game-high 28 points in the final eight minutes of play, playing with the determination of someone who wanted to take over the game.

Guynup also added seven rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocks in the fourth. In all, Guynup finished with 10 rebounds.

“We were just trying to pick up the tempo and get to the basket, Kenna was the one who was in the best position,” Waters said.

Brooke Bjelko scored 17 points while grabbing 13 of her team’s 34 rebounds, while Jordanne Manney had seven points, Alyssa Waters three points to go with three rebounds and a team-leading three assists and three steals. Gabrielle Rowell and Courtney Guynup each scored 2 points.

Kayla Carder and Emily Sample each scored 19 points in the contest, despite Sample fouling out with 3:11 left in the third.

“We had two of our best defenders in foul trouble in the fourth,” Dumas said, including Abbie Sample.

Carder added 11 rebounds and three assists, while Emily Sample had eight rebounds and four steals.

Shaylyn Rowe finished with 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and two blocks, while Abie Sample added 10 points and five boards and Peyton Sample scored 6 points while leading the team with five assists.